Locks for bicycles and the like

ABSTRACT

A lock for a bicycle or the like comprises a first fixed casing member which is adapted to be secured to the frame member of a bicycle or the like and a second casing member which is movable relative to the first casing member. The first casing member is cup-shaped and is provided with frame mounting means on the outer surface of the cup wall. A raised boss extends from the base of the cup-shaped member. The second casing member is adapted to fit into the first casing member and to engage with the boss in such a manner that the second member is rotatable with respect to the first member. One end of a wire or cable is secured to the second casing member and the wire or cable is wound around the periphery of the second member. The other end of the wire or cable extends through a slot in the side wall of the first casing member. A lock is provided with which the other end of the wire or cable is engageable and a coil spring is arranged to act on the second casing member, to cause it to rotate with inspect to the first casing member to draw the wire or cable into the first casing member by being wound around the periphery of the second member as the latter is rotated by the coil spring. Visual and audible alarm means are desirably provided which are arranged to be activated if the wire or cable is pulled or cut.

This invention relates to improvements in locks for bicycles and thelike.

The theft of bicycles is becoming increasingly common and it isnecessary either to immobilise a bicycle, for example, by removing oneof its wheels and/or by securing the bicycle to a fixed object such asrailings by means of a chain and padlock in order to prevent theft.While the removal of a wheel is a fairly effective deterrent againsttheft, this is time- consuming and it is still necessary to secure thedetached wheel in some way to the rest of the bicycle. The otheralternative is for the rider to take the wheel away with him or her andthis is inconvenient and not always practical.

A separate chain and padlock for securing a bicycle to railings or thelike prevents opportune theft but the cyclist has to remember to takethe chain and padlock with him or her at all times and there is also theproblem of stowing the chain and padlock when the bicycle is beingridden. One attempt at solving these problems has been to provide acasing which is adapted to be secured to a frame member of a bicycle andwhich contains a wire which is secured at one end to the casing. Thewire can be passed around part of the bicycle, for example through oneof the wheels and around a frame member, and its other end is providedwith means for securing it to the casing by locking means. The lockingmeans is operated by a key. The wire is arranged to be stowed in thecasing when not in use and a detachable lid is arranged to be fitted tothe casing to retain the stowed wire in the casing.

While this prior arrangement solves a number of the problems associatedwith securing a bicycle against theft, it has been found that thestowing of the wire in the easing is a fiddly business and can get one'shands dirty when the wire has been used for some time and has not beenregularly cleaned. Further, the lid can come off the easing when thebicycle is being ridden and is then either lost or, if secured to thecasing, can flap about and cause damage to the paintwork of the bicycle.

The present invention aims to provide a bicycle lock which overcomes theabove-mentioned disadvantages.

According to the invention, there is provided a lock for a bicycle orthe like which comprises a first fixed casing member adapted to besecured to a frame member of a bicycle or the like and a second casingmember which is movable relative to the first casing member; wherein thefirst casing member is cup-shaped with frame member mounting meansprovided on the outer surface of the cup wall and a raised bossextending from the base substantially at the centre thereof and thesecond casing member is adapted to fit into the first casing member andto engage with the boss in such a manner that the second casing memberis rotatable with respect to the first easing member; one end of a wireor cable being secured to a central region of the second easing memberand the wire or cable then being wound around the periphery of thesecond casing member when the lock is not in use, the other end of thewire or cable extending through a slot in the side wall of the firsteasing member, lock means being provided with which the said other endof the wire or cable is engageable and retracting means being providedwhereby the second casing member is arranged to rotate with respect tothe first casing member to draw the wire or cable into the first casingmember by being wound round the periphery of the second casing member asthe latter is rotated by the retracting means, and wherein the lock isprovided with audible and/or visual alarm means designed to be activatedby vibration if attempts are made to move the lock.

Preferably, the boss is formed integrally with the first casing memberand lock means are located within the boss. The lock means are desirablyarranged to be operated by a key with the slot for the key beingaccessible from the outside of the first casing member. The lock meansmay be arranged to rotate with the second casing member.

The retracting member preferably takes the form of a coil spring whichis attached at one end to the boss, is wound around said boss and isattached at its other end to the second casing member.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second casingmember takes the form of a circular disc provided with a peripheralflange around which the wire or cable can be wound. The central regionof the disc is desirably provided with a raised boss which is engageablewith the lock means.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, withreference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a bicycle lock fitted with anautomatically-retractable wire or cable;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line II--II in FIG. 1 in the directionof the arrows but showing the free end of the wire or cable detachedfrom the casing;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a bicycle showing a lockaccording to the invention fitted thereto;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a casing member forming part of a firstembodiment of a lock according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line V--V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded side elevation of a second embodiment of a lockaccording to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view of a casing member taken in the direction of the arrowA in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view of a cable drum taken in the direction of the arrow Bin FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view of a printed circuit board which is incorporated in theembodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 8;

FIG. 10 shows a ferrule which is fitted to one end of a wire or cablefor use with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 8;

FIG. 11 shows a ferrule which is fitted to the other end of the wire orcable; and

FIG. 12 shows a cover which is intended to be fitted to the cable drumshown in FIG. 8.

In the drawings, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals.

Reference will first be made to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings in which alock for a bicycle or the like comprises a substantially cylindricalcup-shaped first casing member 11 and a second casing member 21 which isadapted to fit into the first casing member. The first easing member 11is provided on the outer surface of its wall with a pair of fittings 12by means of which the casing member 11 can be secured to the framemembers 2 and 3 of a bicycle 1 as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Asshown more clearly in FIG. 2, each fitting 12 has an arcuate depression13 for mating with a bicycle frame member and a pair of screw-threadedbores 14 located one on each side of the depression 13. A respectivecurved strip 15 is arranged to mate with each fitting 12 with a bicycleframe member clamped between them and a pair of holes 16 near the endsof each strip 15 permit screws or bolts 17 to pass through the stripsand engage with the screw- threads of the bores 14 to clamp the casingmember 11 to a bicycle frame member.

The first casing member also has a circular aperture substantially inthe centre of its base which is surrounded by a circular groove 18 inthe base wall of the casing member 11. A cylindrical raised boss 19extends into the casing member 11 from its base substantiallyco-terminous with the aperture.

The second casing member 21 takes the form of a substantially circulardisc-shaped drum and is provided on its circular periphery with a flange22 having a groove 23. The centre of the drum 21 has a circular apertureand a cylindrical boss 24 extends towards the first casing member 11 inthe assembled condition of the lock as shown in FIG. 2.

A cylindrical lock assembly is adapted to be fitted to the casing member11 the assembly comprising a cylindrical casing 31 which is designed tobe received in the boss 19. The casing 31 has a peripheral flange 32which is adapted to engage in the groove 18. The casing 31 is longerthan the boss 19 and the portion 33 of the casing which projects beyondthe end of the boss 19 is provided with a pair of flattened regions 34.A spring housing 35 containing a coil spring 36 is fitted over the boss19 with the coil spring interposed between the boss 19 and the housing35. One end of the coil spring 36 is attached to the housing 35 and itsother end, which is free, is engaged in a slot 20 in a side wall of theboss 19. The edge of the spring housing is castellated and after thehousing has been fitted over the boss 19 it is rotated with respect tothe casing member 11 to pre-load the spring 36. The base of the springhousing 35 has an aperture through which the portion 33 of the lockcasing 31 extends with flattened regions which are engaged with theflattened regions 34, once the spring 36 has been pre-loaded, to preventrelative rotation between the spring housing 35 and the lock casing 31.A pin 37 is inserted through a bore in the casing member 11 to engagewith a slot in the castellated edge of the spring housing 35 to lock thespring housing against rotation relative to the casing member 11 whilethe lock is being assembled.

A slotted ferrule 41 is fined to one end of a wire or cable 42 and ispassed through a slot in the boss 24 and is engaged in a bore 43 in theportion 33 of the lock casing 31. The ferrule is held in the bore 43 bya pair of pins 44 which are inserted into bores intersecting the bore 43at right angles, the pins 44 engaging in the slot in the ferrule to holdthe latter in position. The wire or cable 42 is then coiled round thedrum 21 in the groove 23 and the other end of the wire or cable ispassed through a slot 45 in the wall of the casing member 11 andterminates in a ferrule 46 which is similar to the ferrule 41. The boss24 is then fitted over the portion 33 of the cylindrical lock casing 31and the drum 21 is rotated to take in any play in the wire or cable 42.The drum is then secured in position by means of a nut 47 which isengaged with a screw-threaded extension 38 provided at the end of theportion 33 of the casing 31.

A pair of bores 39 is provided in the end of the portion 33 and the nut47 is provided with a series of four bores 48 any opposed pair of whichcan be aligned with the bores 39. A pair of pins 49 are then insertedinto the aligned bores 48 and 39 to prevent relative rotation betweenthe nut 47 and the lock casing 31. The pin 37 is then withdrawn so thatthe spring housing 35 can rotate with the second casing member 21 andthe lock casing 31.

The lock casing 31 is further provided with a closed bore 51 which isadapted to receive the ferrule 46 at the free end of the wire or cable42 and a lock assembly 52 operated by a key 53 is located within thecasing 31. The lock assembly is arranged, when turned by the key 53, toengage a groove in the ferrule 46 when the latter is engaged in the bore51. Turning the key in the opposite direction is effective to cause thelock to disengage from the ferrule 46 to permit the latter to bewithdrawn from the bore 51.

FIG. 3 shows the lock illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 fitted to a bicycleframe. In order to lock the bicycle, the key 53 is operated to releasethe ferrule 46 from the bore 51 and the wire or cable 42 is then drawnout of the casing, against the action of the spring 36, and passedthrough one or both wheels of the bicycle and around an immovable objectsuch as a lamp post, railings or the like. The ferrule 46 is then re-inserted into the bore 51 and the key 53 turned to lock the ferrule inthe bore. The key is then removed from the lock and the owner can departsecure in the knowledge that his bicycle has been secured against theft.The spring 36 is coiled under tension and keeps the wire or cable 42taut.

On return to the bicycle, the owner can unlock it by means of the key53. As soon as the key is turned to cause the lock to release theferrule 46, the spring 36 will rotate the drum of the casing member 21to retract the wire or cable 42 into the cable casing. The slot 45 inthe wall of the casing member 11 does not permit the ferrule 46 to passthrough it so that the ferrule remains outside the casing. The ferrulemay simply be left free in this position or the wire or cable 42 may bedrawn slightly out of the casing and the ferrule 46 clipped into amoulding 50 provided on the wall of the casing member 21 in the regionof the slot 45.

A lock according to the invention will now be described in detail withreference to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings in which the lock is fittedwith an alarm device. In this embodiment, the second casing member takesthe form of a substantially circular disc-shaped drum 61 provided on itscircular periphery with a flange 62 having a groove 63 in a similarfashion to the casing member 21 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As with the lockshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the centre of the drum 61 has a circularaperture and a cylindrical boss 64 extends towards the first casingmember (not shown) in the assembled condition of the lock. In this ease,however, the drum 61 is provided with at least one recess 65 which isadapted to receive a battery (not shown). The or each recess 65 thustakes the form of a battery compartment which is electrically connectedto an electronic circuit board 66 secured to the drum 61 by screws 67.Mounted on the circuit board 66 are a piezo alarm 68 and/or a zenonflasher 69. The or each battery compartment 65 is closed by a or arespective cover 71 which is secured in place by a screw 72. A series ofslots 73 may be provided in the wall of the drum 61, as shown in FIG. 4,to form a grill through which light from the flasher 69 can be seen andto permit audible signals from the piezo alarm to be heard.

This embodiment is otherwise similar to the lock shown in FIGS. 1 and 2except that, in this case, infra- red activation of the cylindrical lockassembly may be substituted for key operation. This arrangement enablesthe ferrule 46 to be released readily without the owner having to gropeabout, for example, in the dark to insert the key into the key hole.Once the lock mechanism has been set, either by means of a key or byinfra-red means, the alarm will be activated to give a visual and/oraudible warning if any attempt is made to remove the lock.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings comprises a substantiallycylindrical cup-shaped first casing member 111 and a second casingmember 121 which is adapted to fit into the first casing member. Asshown in FIG. 7, the first casing member is provided on the outersurface of its wall with a part tubular fitting 112 by means of whichthe casing member 111 can be secured to the down tube of a bicycle orthe like such as the tube 3 of the bicycle shown in FIG. 3. The fitting112 has an arcuate depression for mating with a bicycle frame member anda pair of screw-threaded bores 114. A clamp 115 is arranged to mate withthe fitting 112 to clamp a bicycle frame member between them and a pairof holes 116 near the ends of the clamp 115 permit screws or bolts 117to pass through the clamp 115 and engage with the screw-threads of thebores 114 to clamp the casing member 111 to a bicycle frame member.Packing pieces 113 in the form of strips of resilient material may bearranged to be clamped between the fitting 112 and the clamp 115 on theone hand and a bicycle frame member on the other hand and both thefitting 112 and the clamp 115 may be provided with arcuate slots orgrooves to receive the packing pieces 113.

A circular aperture is provided substantially in the centre of the baseof the casing member 111 which aperture is surrounded by a circulargroove 118 and a raised boss 119 extends into the casing member 111 fromthe base thereof substantially co-terminous with the aperture.

A spring housing 135 containing a coil spring 136 is fitted over theboss 119 with the coil spring interposed between the boss 119 and thehousing 135. One end of the coil spring 136 is attached to the housing135 and its other end is engaged in a slot 120 in a side wall of theboss 119. A mylar washer 130 is interposed between the side of the coilspring 136 and the casing member 111. The barrel 131 of a cylindricallock assembly is designed to be received in the boss 119 and has aportion 133 with flattened regions 134 which is designed to extendthrough an aperture in the base of the spring housing 135, said aperturehaving flattened regions which are designed to mate with the flattenedregions 134 on the portion 133 of the lock barrel 131.

The second casing member 121 takes the form of a substantially circulardisc-shaped drum and is provided in its circular periphery with a deepgroove 123. The centre of the drum 121 has a circular aperture and acylindrical boss 124 extends towards the first casing member 111. Aseries of four posts 181 (only two shown) having screw-threaded boresalso extend from the base of the drum 121 towards the first casingmember 111. Electrical contacts 184 on the lock barrel 131 are connectedby wires 185 (see FIG. 9) to terminals L1, PW1 and PW2 on a printedcircuit board 183. The board is secured to the drum 121 by screws 186which engage in the screw-threaded bores in the posts 181.

The cylindrical boss 124 has a bore with flattened regions and isadapted to fit over the portion 133 of the lock barrel 131 with theflattened regions of the bore in the boss 124 mating with and engagingthe flattened regions 134 of the portion 133 of the barrel 131. Once thedrum 121 has been fitted to the casing member 121 by engaging the boss124 on the portion 133 of the lock barrel 131, said drum is rotated withrespect to the casing cover to tension the coil spring 136. Ideally, thedrum should be rotated through six full turns and is then held inposition while a slotted ferrule 141 fitted to one end of a steel cableassembly 142 is passed through a slot 145 in the wall of the casingmember 111, through an aperture in the base of the groove 123 and isengaged in a bore 143 in the portion 133 of the lock barrel 131. Theferrule is held in the bore by a pair of pins 144 which are insertedinto bores intersecting the bore 143 at right angles, the pins 144engaging in the slot in the ferrule to hold the latter in position. Thedrum 121 can then be allowed to rotate to coil the cable around the drumin the groove 123. The ferrule 141 is electrically connected by a wire140 to the contact L2 of the printed circuit board 183 e.g. bysoldering.

A lock assembly 152 is fitted into the drum 121 to engage the pins 144and to be received in the lock barrel 131. The lock assembly 152 andlock barrel 131 are secured in position by a locking ring 132 whichengages in the groove 118 in the casing member 111 and which is held inposition by pins 149. The lock assembly 152 has a key hole slot 153 atone end for the reception of a key (not shown) from the side of thecasing member 111. A bore 151 extends into the assembly 152 from itsother end and is adapted to receive a slotted ferrule 146 on the otherend of the cable assembly 142. A spring-loaded plunger 154 projects intothe bore 151 and is adapted to engage in the slot in the ferrule to holdthe ferrule in position in the bore.

The ferrule can then only be removed from the bore by inserting a keyinto the lock assembly 152 and turning the key to retract the plunger154.

In a similar manner to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, theembodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 is also fitted with an alarm device.The drum 121 is provided with a pair of compartments 165 for receivingbatteries as well as a piezo alarm 168 with a zenon flasher 169. Thecompartments, alarm and flasher are closed by a cover 171 which issecured to the drum 121 by a screw 172. As shown in FIG. 12, the cover171 is provided with a series of arcuate slots 173, to permit audiblesignals from the piezo alarm to be heard, as well as a window which isfilled by a plate 174 of transparent material through which light fromthe flasher can be seen. The underside surface of the plate is desirablypatterned to give a magnifying effect to the flasher and the flasherdesirably comprises three red-coloured lamps.

The cable 142 preferably takes the form of a multi-core steel cablehaving at least six strands. The cable may surround an inner core of agood electrical conductivity such as copper so that when the ferrule 146is inserted into the bore 151 of the lock assembly 152 an electricalcircuit is completed.

The printed circuit board incorporates a circuit which is capable ofarming the alarm 168 and the flasher 169 when the ferrule 146 isinserted into the bore 151. The circuit is also capable of arming thealarm and flasher by remote infra-red operation and the remote controldevice may be incorporated into a key fob.

In order to lock a bicycle or the like fitted with the lock shown inFIGS. 6 to 12, the cable 142 is first drawn out of the cable drum andpassed through one or both wheels and around an immovable object such asa lamp post or railings as before and the ferrule 146 is inserted intothe bore 151. The lock can then be armed by depressing an infra-redcontrol button on the key fob for a second. The warning lamps will flashand the audible alarm will beep to acknowledge that the key code hasbeen successfully received. During this acknowledgement, a red warningLED will also be lit. The warning LED is also arranged to flashintermittently while the lock is armed.

If, while the lock is in its armed state, the cable 142 is cut, thecircuit is arranged to set off the alarm which will operate continuouslywith the piezo alarm 168 giving an audible warning and the flasher 169giving a visual warning. If on the other hand, the lock is moved, thealarms will be activated by a vibration switch for about ten seconds.While the unit is in its "alarm" state, it will not accept ade-activation signal from the infra-red remote controller. If the alarmhas been activated by the vibration switch, it will cease approximatelyten seconds after its last detected vibration and revert to the armedstate. However, if the alarm has been set off because the cable has beencut it will continue to sound until the batteries are exhausted or poweris removed.

The lock can be disarmed by activating the remote infra- red control forabout a second. The warning light will flash and the audible alarm willbeep to acknowledge that the key code has been successfully received. Ifthe battery state is low, the acknowledge state is followed by a seriesof short warning beeps to advise the owner that fresh batteries areneeded. The ferrule 146 can then be withdrawn from the lock casing bymeans of the key. The spring 136 will then act on the steel cableassembly 142 to retract the cable into the casing 111 by being woundround the inner casing member 121 in the groove 123. The ferrule 146 isof such a size that it cannot pass through the slot 145 in the wall ofthe casing member 111.

It will be seen that the lock according to the invention provides aready and convenient means for preventing, or at least deterring, thetheft of bicycles and the like. The wire or cable is preferably madesubstantial, at least 6 mm thick, and is desirably coated with aplastics material such as PVC to render it convenient to use and easy tokeep clean. The self-retracting action of the wire or cable makes itconvenient to use and eliminates stowage problems when the lock is notin use.

The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiments butvariations and modifications are possible without departing from thescope of the invention. For example, although in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 4 to 5 two fittings are shown for securing the casing to a bicycleframe, only one fitting need be provided as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7although the provision of a second fitting enables the casing to befitted more securely to a bicycle frame. Further, in the embodimentsshown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and 6 to 12, only one battery compartment can beprovided for a single battery.

Moreover, the lock according to the invention is not restricted to usewith bicycles but is also suitable for use with other vehicles such astricycles or quadricycles or even carts as well as motorcycles,motorcycle combinations, mopeds and scooters.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lock for a bicycle, said lock comprising:a first fixed casing member adapted to be secured to a frame member of a bicycle and a second casing member which is movable relative to said first casing member; said first casing member being cup-shaped having a base and a cup wall, wherein frame member mounting means are provided on an outer surface of said cup wall and a raised boss extends from said base at a central region thereof, wherein said second casing member is adapted to fit into said first casing member and to engage with said raised boss in such a manner that said second casing member is rotatable with respect to said first casing member; a wire cable, one end of which is secured to said second casing member and said wire cable then being wound around said second casing member when said lock is not in use, the other end of said wire cable extending through a slot in said cup wall of said first casing member; locking means being provided with which said other end of said wire cable is engageable; and retracting means being provided whereby said second casing member is arranged to rotate with respect to said first casing member to draw said wire cable into said first casing member by being wound round said second casing member as the latter is rotated by said retracting means, wherein said wire cable is arranged to complete an electric circuit when said other end of said wire cable is engaged in said locking means and wherein said lock is provided with an alarm means with an annunciator selected from the group including audible and visual alarms, said alarm means activated by vibration for only a limit pre-set period of time if attempts are made to move said lock and to be activated continually if said wire cable is cut.
 2. A lock according to claim 1, wherein said raised boss is formed integrally with said first casing member and wherein said locking means are located within said raised boss, said locking means being desirably arranged to be operated by a key.
 3. A lock according to claim 1 wherein said retracting member comprises a coil spring which is attached at one end to said raised boss, is wound round said raised boss and is attached at its other end to said second casing member.
 4. A lock according to claim 1, wherein said second casing member comprises a circular disc provided with a peripheral flange around which said wire cable can be wound.
 5. A lock according to claim 4, wherein said circular disc has a central region provided with a second casing member raised boss which is engageable with said locking means.
 6. A lock according to claim 1, wherein said lock is adapted to be activated by a remote infra-red source.
 7. A lock according to claim 1, wherein said wire cable consists of a plurality of strands and is provided with a central core consisting of a material which is a good conductor of electricity. 